Flexible shackle padlock



Nov. 13, 1951 E. E. GOSSNER FLEXIBLE SHACKLE PADLOCK Filed March 13, 1948 INVENTOR. 4.5, ELW/IV sass/V51? A TTOR/VEY Patented Nov. 13, 1951 FLEXIBLE SHACKLE PADIJOCK Louis Ernest Elwin Gossner, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Treg, Inc., San Francisco, .Califi, a corporation of California Application March 13, 1948; SerialNo. 14,690

This invention relates to locks and particularly to ,a portable lock of the padlock type having a flexible and-extensible shackle part.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lock of simple inexpensive construction and of relatively small size with a flexible and extensible shackle part capable of encircling large objects. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock of this kind with means for extending the shackle part, means for securing it in aloop-like form and a single key actuated mechanism for locking it both in its secured position .and against variation .in its extended length. Still further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention are made apparent in the :following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form which the invention may assume.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation :of a lock embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 and showing the lock with the extensible shackle retracted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View show ing an end of the shackle part.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a modified form of shackle, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification in the form of the mechanism employed for varying the length of the shackle.

Figs. 1 to l show a lock comprising a main case iii. A flat partition ll within the -main case and a curved partition !2 serve to divide the interior of the main case into a shackle compartment 13 and a lock compartment l4. Within the shackle compartment, 2. shackle [5 shown as a flexible steel tape is wound upon a centrally disposed shaft iii. The free end of the shackle extends outwardly through an opening ll in the case and carries an enlargement 13 adapted to be received within a notch or recess it also formed .in the case as shown in Fig. l.

The shaft l6 which carries thefiexible shackle 5.5 also carries on the opposite side of the partition plate H a gear tii. This gear meshes with a gear 2:! .on a shaft 22. .The shaft 22 extends through the side wall of the case and carries key 23 preferably pivoted to it as shown in order that it may be folded flat against the side of the case when it is not in use. Manual rota- Claims. (01. 70-49) tion of the key 23 serves either to extend or retract the flexible .shackle .15. Of course the gears 28 and 2| may be eliminated and the key 23 placed directly on the shaft 16.. The gears are: preferred however to speed the operation of adjusting the length of the shackle.

When it .is desired to apply the lock to some article such for example as :a .suitcase, the shackle is extended a distance sufiicient to encircle the suitcase and its enlarged end 18 is inserted in the socket t9 which opens outwardly through one side of the main lease 10 only. Then in order to adjust the shackle until it snugly embraces the article to be locked, the key 23 may be turned to take it in and eliminate any existing slack. To hold the shackle temporarily in its :adiusted position, a spring pressed detent .25 may be secured as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the inner side vof the main case for engagement with the teeth of the gear to prevent rotation of said gear except under the application of force.

In order to prevent unauthorized removal of the lock, it is necessary both toprevent extene slot "21 formed therein and exposed as shown "in Fig. 1 through-the side wall of the main case. The cylinder lock may be of any conventional form and details of its construction are therefore not shown herein. Under control of its key however, the lock serves-to rotate a twoarmed lever 28 between the dotted line and full lined position-s illustrated in Fig. 3. One arm 29 of this lever serves as shown in its full line position to enter awslot in the socket i9 and obstruct the removal of the enlarged part 18 on the end of the shackle therefrom. The other arm 30 of the same lever is pivotally connected to "a bolt '3! slidabl-y supported on a pin 32 extending through a :slot 33 in the bolt. The end of the bolt 3! is toothed for locking engagement with the teeth of the gear .20 thus to prevent rotation of said gear and consequently prevent adjustment of the length of the shackle when the bolt .is in its extended position. The retracted position of the bolt shown in dotted lines frees its toothed end from engagement with the gear 20;

With the construction herein illustrated, a lock may be provided with a shackle of any desired length so that it may encircle a large bundle or even a large chest of drawers to prevent opening of the drawers. The flexible metal tape of which the shackle is formed is of course readily severed with the use of suitable tools. The function of the lock howeveris, like most padlocks, not to insure against forced entry with the aid of tools but merely to prevent or to deter casual pilfering. It is possible however, with substantially the construction herein illustrated, to provide a much stronger adjustable shackle which may be in the form either of a flexible steel cable or a chain such as illustrated in'Fig. 6. The chain or cable may, if desired, havea spherical enlargement 35 on its end instead of the cylindrical enlargement shown on the flexible tape. In either case, the enlarged end of the flexible shackle may be inserted in the socket l9 and will be locked against removal from said socket by the key controlled arm 29 of the lever 28.

In order to simplify the appearance of the lock,

1 the key 23 employed for extending and retractemployed in thelock cylinder 26. This cylinder maybe a dummy to the extent that it need not have the usual locking dogs. With this modification however, the same key employed in the looking part will be available for extendin and retracting the shackle and will be removed when the lock is in use.

I claim: 1. In a lock, a casing, a partition dividing the easing into twosections, one of said sections being provided with an exit opening, a central shaft rotatably mounted in said casing and extending through both of said sections thereof, a small gear mounted on said shaft adjacent'one end thereof, a drive gear rotatably mounted to one wall of said casing meshing with said small gear,

' means to rotate said drive gear, a tape secured at one end thereof to said shaft and being wound about said shaft within said casing and extending out of the exit opening, a cylindrical bead at the free end of said tape, one extremity of said casing being provided with a cylindrical recess to receive said cylindrical bead, a key shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent said recess, a two armed lever mounted on said key shaft adjacent one end thereof and rotatable therewith, one arm of which is to close said recess, a bolt pivotally mounted at the distal end of the second arm of said two armed lever and v engaging said small gear when the said one arm of said lever is in position to close said recess,

and ratchet means associated with said small gear to prevent overrunning thereof.

2. In a lock, a casing, a main shaft rotatable in said casing, a tape secured at one end thereof to said shaft and being carried by one end of said shaft within said casing, said casing being provided with an exit opening for said tape, a bead at the free end of said tape, said casing being provided with a recess to receive said bead, a small gear'on said main shaft, a drive gear meshing with said small gear rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said drive gear, a ratchet contacting said small gear, a key shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent said recess, a two armed lever aifixed to one end of said key shaft one arm of which is to close said recess upon rotation of said key shaft, whereby the free end of said tape may be locked within said recess, a bolt pivotally mounted at the distal end of the second arm of said lever and engaging said small gear in one position of said lever.

3. In a lock, a casing, a main shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, a tape secured at one end thereof to said shaft and being wound about said main shaft adjacent one end thereof, said casing being provided with an exit vent for said tape, a bead at the free end of said tape, a small gear mounted on said shaft adjacent the other end thereof, a drive gear rotatably mounted on said casing meshing with said small gear, means for rotating said drive gear, said casing being provided with a recess to receive said head, a key shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent said recess, a two armed lever mounted on one end of said key shaft and movable therewith one arm of Which is to close the mouth of said recess, and a bolt pivotally attached to the second arm of said lever and engaging said small gear when the said one arm of said lever is in position to close said recess.

4. In a lock, a casing, a rotatable shaft within said casing, a tape secured at one end thereof to said shaft and being wound on said shaft, said casing having an exit opening for said tape,-a bead on the free end of said tape, said casing being provided with a recess shaped to freely receive said bead, a key shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent said recess, a two armed lever mounted on one end of said key shaft for rotation therewith one arm of which is adapted to close the bead receiving extremity of said recess, a bolt pivotally mounted at the distal end of the second arm of said lever and engaging said rotatable shaft when the one arm of said lever is in position to close the extremity of said recess.

5. In a look, a casing, a rotatable shaft Within said casing, an extensible tape secured at one end thereof to said shaft being carried by said shaft, said casing having an exit opening for said tape, a bead on the free end of said tape, said casing having a recess shaped to freely receive said bead, a key shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent said recess, a two armed lever mounted at the inner end of said key shaft and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 199,468 Rheubottom Jan. 22, 1878 639,196 Fehling Dec. 12, 1899 673,612 Appleby May '7, 1901 730,868 Brown June 16, 1903 1,069,646 Richter Aug. 5, 1913 2,268,178 Boisture Dec. 30, 1941 

